26 THE NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
that he has discovered three.’ In these there is again an 
instance of some very common birds that have as me no 
English name. 
Mr. Stillingfleet makes a question whether the hanes be 
a bird of passage or not: I think there is no doubt of it: for, 
in April, in the first fine weather, they come trooping all at 
once, into these parts, but are never seen in the winter. They 
are delicate songsters. 
Numbers of snipes breed every summer in some moory 
ground on the verge of this parish. It is very amusing to see 
the male bird on wing at that time, and to hear his piping and 
humming notes. | 
I have had no opportunity yet of procuring any of those 
mice which I mentioned to you in town. The person that 
brought me the last says they are plenty in harvest, at which 
time I will take care to get more ; and will endeavor to put the 
matter out of doubt, whether it be a nondescript species or not. 
I suspect much there may be two species of water-rats. Ray 
says, and Linnzus after him, that the water-rat is web-footed 
behind. Now I have discovered a rat on the banks of our 
little stream that is not web-footed, and yet is an excellent 
swimmer and diver: it answers exactly to the AZus amphibius 
of Linnzeus, which he says swims and dives in ditches. I 
should be glad to procure one with feet spreading out like a 
palm. Linnzus seems to be in a puzzle about his Wus amphi- 
dius, and to doubt whether it differs from his AZus terrestris ; 
which, if it be, as he allows, is widely different from the water- 
rat, both in size, make, and manner of life. 
As to the falcon, which I mentioned in town, I shall take the 
liberty to send it down to you in Wales ; presuming on your 
candor that you will excuse me if it should appear as familiar 
to you as it is strange to me. 
1 Modern ornithologists recognize three, the willow-wren, the wood- 
wren, and the chiff-chaff. 
